​GOOD MORNING INDIA!

LATEST NEWS UPDATES ON ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FROM ACROSS THE MEDIA SPACE

It is unlikely that India would sleep tonight. On the intervening night of June 30-July 1, the country is all set to embrace one of its biggest changes-the Goods and Services Tax (GST)--since its independence back in 1947.

The government as well as the ruling BJP have drawn lessons from the widespread criticism that came their way during the demonetisation drive in November and will make all efforts to ensure the implementation of goods and services tax is a smooth affair.

Indian state-run Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) is to raise US$450 million through its first ever 10-year Green Bonds with listing at London and Singapore, according energy minister Piyush Goyal.

As Delhi fast runs out of dumping grounds, state-run generation utility NTPC has stepped in at the behest of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and agreed to set up a solid waste management plant at its Badarpur power station

Orient Green Power Company Limited (OGPL), which is part of the Shriram Group and a renewable energy-based power generation company, is looking to sell its bulk of biomass operations to its promoter company- Shriram Ventures Ltd (SVL Ltd) or its subsidiaries.

Rolling back restrictions on financing coal projects overseas is part of President Trump’s road-map to a “new era of American energy dominance,” he said a speech at the Department of Energy’s headquarters on Thursday.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 150 million loan to Nepal to improve the reliability and efficiency of electricity supply to end the energy crisis within the next two years in the country.

Carbon Masters India Pvt. Ltd. is a Bengaluru – based renewable energy provider and a startup. The startup had announced yesterday (29/06/2017) that it has secured Seed funding from the VC firms, Sangam Ventures and Indian Angel Networks (IAN).

China's energy demand has reached peak levels and is set to fall in coming years, an influential government think tank said, in a study offering an optimistic view on Chinese efforts to combat climate change.

The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was US$ 46.62 per barrel (bbl) on 29.06.2017.

The Centre is fully for bringing petroleum products under GST scheduled for implementing from July 1, and the GST Council will require to take a decision on taxing these as per the new indirect tax regime, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

Saudi Aramco was said to be seeking to enter exclusive talks on investing in the largest refining project under way in India – revealed in a coincident industry report to have been the world’s fastest-growing crude consumer last year. Meanwhile, petrochemicals-focused Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) has committed to studying projects in Kazakhstan as part of a wider co-operation agreement between Riyadh and Astana.

The one thing that pinches everyone is the price of fuel. Doesn’t matter if they ride a scooter or are chauffered in a luxury car, fuel prices hurt everyone equally. That’s why diesel cars sell more than petrol ones do.

India's largest refiner Indian Oil Corp is setting up an office in Singapore that will handle crude oil purchases and the sales of oil products from its refineries later this year, trade sources said on Friday.

A sharp rise in output of natural gas, electricity and refinery production aided the eight core sectors to grow 3.6% in May compared with 2.8% in April. The core sector had expanded 5.2% in May last year.

Analysts have cut their forecasts for oil prices this year and next as the prospect of a continued large rise in U.S. production will likely slow OPEC's efforts to cut its output to help supply match demand, according to a Reuters poll.

Giving a major boost to new entrants in the hydrocarbons sector, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is set to launch the second round of bidding for discovered small and marginal fields (DSF) in October.

Oil and gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked officials to intensify monitoring of oil and gas fields given to state-owned firms such as ONGC and ensure that there are no slippages in domestic output.

India's biggest importer of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) is trying to re-negotiate prices with the U.S. seller, sources said, undermining plans by U.S. President Donald Trump to export more gas to the fast-growing Asian nation.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the business community of Uzbekistan to participate in the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, said the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news service.

Biodiesel made from microalgae could power buses and trucks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80 percent, Chilean scientists said, possibly curbing pollution in contaminated cities like Santiago.

Rail traffic on the central line was affected for over an hour after a wheel of an engine of Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express derailed while entering Kalyan station this afternoon, a senior central railway official said.

Speaking at the fire-side chat at the AGM of Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai on 29th June , 2017 Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu said that the government is working on a scheme to develop 500 railway stations

The Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley asked the representatives of Trade and Industry to ensure that all benefits arising due to the implementation of GST from 1st July, 2017

With the Centre’s final Suburban Rail Policy putting the lid on the funding controversy between the Railways and the state government by fixing the latter’s share at 80%, the baby steps towards forming the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) are finally being taken.

In a bid to deal with passengers’ complains of getting stale or overpriced food, the Indian Railways is planning to install a vending machine which will dispense ready-to-eat food to the passengers 24X7

A planned $15 billion safety overhaul of India’s ageing rail network is facing delays as the country's state steel company is unable to meet demand for new rails, according to two government documents seen by Reuters.

Train services were today affected in Kharagpur and Adra division of south eastern railway due to ‘rail roko’ call given by Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal (BJMPM), the largest outfit of tribals in west Midnapore, SER sources said.

Sajjan Jindal's JSW Steel is eyeing acquisition of steel-making assets in the United States, spurred by its US based steel mill's improved financial performance after US President Donald Trump's Make in America policy brought smokestack businesses back into the reckoning.

Pitching for a "strong collaboration" with India in nuclear power, former Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission chairman Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan says his country could gain a lot from India's experience in construction, operations and maintenance of nuclear power plants.

Passengers commuting by trains can now produce e-Aadhaar as identity proof. The Ministry of Railways on Friday announced its decision to incorporate downloaded e-Aadhar Card to its list of valid and prescribed identity proofs for rail travel across the country.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao on June 29 explained to India’s leaders that ADB’s new country strategy for India (2018-2022) will focus on improving economic performance of low-income states and enhancing its support for developing economic corridors under the Make-in-India initiative.